Residents, business owners debate road closures, event policy in Meredith

MEREDITH — Residents voiced concerns and suggestions about road closures and special events during a selectboard workshop Monday, as town leaders work toward creating a policy.

After an approval of a Boho Bazaar this summer, at the selectboard’s March 30 meeting, members said a policy is needed for future events involving road or park closures. At that meeting, the board voted 4-1 to approve the event for Saturday, Aug. 15, with Mike Pelczar voting against.

Pelczar again voiced his concerns on Monday, about closing Main Street. He said he is totally against any for-profit activity in the town’s parks. He said he wants streets closures “as minimal as possible.”

After the March 30 meeting, Town Manager Judie Milner was tasked to create a draft Road Closure and Special Event Policy. It states all events impacting public roads and parks need a special permit, and events impacting parks only require a facility event permit.

The road closure section of the policy is separated into areas that define what to do with municipal and nonprofit events, as well as for-profit events.

Road closures need to be requested through the town’s permitting process for municipal and nonprofit events, and must also meet safety, traffic, and operational requirements.

The draft states road closures are to be approved by the selectboard. The application would be reviewed when the event is commercial, if there is a significant traffic disruption expected, and if the event will require exclusive or extended use of infrastructure.

Parks and public space use is also addressed, and the draft notes parks are primarily for nonprofit use. For-profit use of parks is not permitted, but can be considered case by case.

Milner said this is the first pass, to get the board talking about it, and noted there are some things not in the draft for the board to consider. This includes capping the number of road closures each year, which residents spoke about at the March meeting. She also suggested a priority preferences for longstanding community events.

The town received a letter from Bob Manley, owner of Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery on Main Street, who wrote while he supported the “thoughtful policies that protect that goal,” he also believes there are important considerations.

Manley encouraged the selectboard to consider a policy that allows for both nonprofits and businesses to use the parks, and suggested a structured fee system, with nonprofit access as a priority.

Manley attended Monday’s meeting, and said when he reviewed the policy, it seemed there is an opening for local businesses to seek approval from the selectboard for the use of a park or closure of a street.

“If that is how the policy is intended to be written, then I think it is an excellent step forward,” Manley said.

Manley said businesses are an important asset for many reasons, as they provide places for both residents and tourists to visit. His letter stated local businesses are a central part of the town’s vitality, and not only contribute significantly to the tax base and provide local employment, but also often support nonprofit organizations.

“I just want to make sure — I think you have — that we keep businesses in mind as we consider how we use our town,” Manley said.

Water Street resident Deb McNeish said they are the brunt of everything on Main Street that is closed. She and her husband support what happens there, but asked that the town post proper signage about road closures when there is an event.

“Please put a sign on 104,” NcNeish said. “Please put a sign on Upper Ladd Hill. Please put a sign on Mill Street, Lake Street, Dover Street, Main Street, and down by the lights, and Plymouth. So, all of our guests know they can’t get through Main Street.”

Resident Karen Sticht contacted a surveyor with ample knowledge of the parks, saying she remembered Hesky Park does not allow commercial use. The town purchased the land in 1955, with the stipulation it be used for park and recreation purposes only, she said.

“So that’s up for the town to decide of whether it is going to be a park, or if recreational things happen there,” Sticht said. “This has been interpreted as the town sees fit, but no commercial activities can take place.”

Sticht said she attends the First Congregational Church on Sundays, and requested if there are road closures, they follow the system of when the arts and crafts fair takes place.

“So, the road going up to the church is open so we can come and go,” Sticht said.

Sticht feels sorry for the people who live on these roads in question, and echoed Pelczar, saying it would probably be best to have limited closures. She doesn’t want to see events like the street dance shut down, but suggested the craft fair could be moved to Prescott Park, especially now that it is being revamped.

“There are lots of things to consider that won’t inhibit the people who live there from getting to their home,” Sticht said.

Resident Sue Mangers said even at the best of times there are safety concerns, and asked the board to consider this when there is a road closure request. She also questioned whether it is detrimental to businesses when Main Street closes, something she recalled from a previous meeting.

Manley addressed this, noting his business is located on the road, and there hasn’t been a street closure that's negatively affected him.

“Bringing large volumes of people to our downtown area, I see as extremely helpful for the small businesses trying to figure out how to survive on that street,” Manley said.

Selectboard member Lynn Leighton said she has a dilemma. She hears what the residents are saying, but also wants to support businesses.

Pelczar stressed he wants more communication, and if there is a big event, he wants to hear about it sooner rather than later. He also said he will never be an advocate for any for-profit activity in any town park, calling them “sacred.” He added he disapproves of any road or park closure that doesn’t go through the selectboard.

“I am all for helping businesses out in town, but we also have to think about other residents and other businesses, and the time of day is a lot to consider,” Pelczar said.

Leighton asked whether there is a nonprofit holding an event where profits are made, and Pelczar said that would be for-profit. He said the fishing derby is a nonprofit that can set up in Hesky Park, but Chair Steve Aiken said that is why there have never been food vendors there.

Leighton said there have been talks of bringing a chowder fest back to Hesky Park, where local businesses would sell their chowder.

“Donate it to a charity,” Pelczar said. “Cover your costs. You’re still getting your advertisement, and the proceeds go to charity. There are ways around it.”

Manley said a business needs to stay alive, and needs to pay their expenses to recoup their cost to participate. He suggested a percentage going to charity after covering costs, and Pelczar said he agreed with this notion.

Manley praised the open conversation, and agreed in the small town they need to manage how often the street is closed. He said it is healthy to find a balance to appease both neighbors and businesses alike.

“I think it is great that we are talking about it, and we are planning for it,” Manley said. “Because it is disruptive. It is something that is both beneficial and hurtful, depending on where you stand in the discussion.”

Milner will bring forward a revised draft for a workshop on Monday, May 11.

“The revision would be that any event closing a street, whether municipal, nonprofit or profit, would need board approval,” Milner wrote in an email on Wednesday. “And any for-profit event utilizing a park would need board approval.”

Another workshop could follow, but Milner is hoping for a June 8 selectboard vote on the finalized policy.